Method and Apparatus for Outputting Media Content

1. A mobile communication device comprising: receiver circuitry operable to receive broadcast real-time media data over a communication interface; and signal processing logic operable to extract real-time media content from the broadcast real-time media data, and to output the extracted real-time media content via a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein, in response to determining at least a partial loss of real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data, the signal processing logic is operable to: attempt to establish a unicast connection with a serving communication unit via the communication interface, over which to receive second real-time media data, and from which to extract second real-time media content for outputting via the user interface; and in response to the signal processing logic being unable to establish the unicast connection over which to receive the second real-time media data, the signal processing logic is further operable to: retrieve stored media content from a memory element of the mobile communication device that is different from the real-time media content, and to output the retrieved media content via the user interface of the mobile communication device.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to output the real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data via the user interface of the mobile communication device in response to determining a quality of service of the extracted real-time media content subsequently exceeding a threshold level.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the communication interface comprises an air interface.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to retrieve the stored media content from the memory element of the mobile communication device in response to detecting a gap in the broadcast real-time media data exceeding a predetermined duration.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to retrieve the stored media content according to a class of media data determined by at least one from a group of: the real-time media content; a user profile; a time of day; a date.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the stored media content comprises at least one from a group of media content categories comprising: advertisements; sports clips, highlights, scores, interviews; news clips, headlines, or a combination thereof.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to download media content for storing in memory in at least one of: during periods of inactivity of the mobile communication device; periodically.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining at least a partial loss of data for the real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data, the signal processing logic is operable to download real-time media data via a communication facility other than the communication interface over which broadcast real-time media data is received.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the stored media content comprises time-dependent restrictions.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to only retrieve stored media content that is valid with respect to the time-dependent restrictions at a time of retrieval.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein the time-dependent restrictions comprise at least one from a group of: an expiry date, after which media content is no longer valid; a date range within which media content is valid; a daily period of time within which media content is valid; at least one date on which media content is valid.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining at least a partial loss of data for the broadcast media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data, the signal processing logic is further operable to suspend a reception of broadcast real-time media data over the communication interface by the receiver circuitry.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to retrieve the stored media content from a memory element of the mobile communication device and to output the stored media content via the user interface of the mobile communication device, in response to determination that at least a portion of the media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data does not match data according to a user profile.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing logic is operable to display on the user interface an indication that a partial loss of broadcast real-time data has occurred prior to outputting the retrieved media content via the user interface.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining a partial loss of received data of the broadcast real-time media data, the signal processing logic is operable to establish a connection to request lost real-time media content, and in response to subsequent receipt of the lost real-time media content, the signal processing logic is further operable to output the lost real-time media content via the user interface.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 15 , wherein, in response to the signal processing logic determining that a quality of the real-time media content exceeds a threshold level, the signal processing logic is operable to buffer media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data until the lost real-time media content has been output via the user interface.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the broadcast real-time media data comprises a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) streaming service.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the broadcast real-time media data comprises a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) streaming service.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein, the signal processing logic is operable to attempt to establish a unicast connection with a serving communication unit via the communication interface, over which to receive second real-time media data, in response to determining a complete loss of real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data.

20. A computer-enabled method for outputting media content on a mobile communication device, the method comprising, at the mobile communication device: receiving broadcast real-time media data over a communication interface; extracting real-time media content from the broadcast real-time media data; and outputting the extracted real-time media content via a user interface of the mobile communication device; determining a partial loss of received real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data; attempting to establish a unicast connection with a serving communication unit via the communication interface, over which to receive second real-time media data, and from which to extract real-time media content for outputting via the user interface; and determining an inability to establish the unicast connection over which to receive the second real-time media data; and based thereon retrieving stored media content from a memory element of the mobile communication device that is different from the real-time media content; and outputting the retrieved stored media content via the user interface of the mobile communication device.

21. A mobile communication system comprising a node for wirelessly communicating with a mobile communication device, the system comprising: receiver circuitry operable to receive broadcast real-time media data over a communication interface; and signal processing logic operable to extract real-time media content from the broadcast real-time media data, and to output the extracted real-time media content via a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein, in response to determining a partial loss of real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data, the signal processing logic is operable to: attempt to establish a unicast connection with a serving communication unit via the communication interface, over which to receive second real-time media data, and from which to extract real-time media content for outputting via the user interface; and in response to the signal processing logic being unable to establish the unicast connection over which to receive the second real-time media data, the signal processing logic is further operable to: retrieve stored media content from a memory element of the mobile communication device that is different from the real-time media content; and output the retrieved media content via the user interface of the mobile communication device.

22. A non-transitory computer program product having executable program code stored thereon for outputting media content on a mobile communication device, the program code operable for, when executed at the mobile communication device: receiving broadcast real-time media data over a communication interface; extracting real-time media content from the broadcast real-time media data; and outputting the extracted real-time media content via a user interface of the mobile communication device, determining a partial loss of received real-time media content extracted from the broadcast real-time media data; attempting to establish a unicast connection with a serving communication unit via the communication interface, over which to receive second real-time media data, and from which to extract real-time media content for outputting via the user interface; and determining an inability to establish the unicast connection over which to receive the second real-time media data; and based thereon retrieving stored media content from a memory element of the mobile communication device that is different from the real-time media content; and outputting the retrieved media content via the user interface of the mobile communication device.

23. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 22 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises at least one of a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), a EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory.